Vittorio Brambilla

[Ross Prawn]

Vittorio of course was not a reject.

But todays Malaysian GP brings back memories of his famous victory in Austria in 1975 for which he scored half points due to the race being stopped by bad weather. Happily Brambilla spun off and wrecked the nose of the car as soon as he had taken the chequered flag.

A car wrecker of epic proportions, he is sadly missed.

[Yannick]

Knowing the story of that race from my parents, who were there and saw it, I still wonder if Brambilla was the last driver ever to win in F1 in a March? I know the beautifully turquoise Leyton Houses came close twice, but that doesn't count. And Simtek, that was sort of like inheriting the spirit of March, because they too used to be Max's company, well, they went nowhere.

[Barbazza]

I think he very probably was. I know Ronnie Peterson won a race or two in a March but I'm pretty sure that would have been before Brambilla.
Shame I never saw him race, he was a bit before my time. I think he would have been one of my favourites!

[midgrid]

I think the last time March won a race was with Ronnie Peterson at the 1977 Italian Grand Prix, so not quite!

[Henrique]

Here's a marvelous coincidence. Vittorio Brambilla also scored one point in another race that was stopped, the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. It was on that race that his March teammate, Lella Lombardi, scored half a point, becoming the only woman to score in F1 ever and the driver with lowest number of points above zero.

[TedTofield]

Of course the best part about the story of the "Monza Gorillas" win is that when he crossed the finish line, realising he had won he took both hands off the wheel and jammed them into the air in exhultation... (see the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a4mbwhuJfI )..being a soaking wet track he promptly spun off of course. he ploughed into the armco and dislodged the nose, he then continued around to the pits where he was met with a heros welcome and a very bent car!

Vittorio is the very spirit of Rejectdom, trapped in the body of a sucessful racing driver!

[runningboots]

I'm probably admitting a real weakness here, but why was he called the "Monza Gorilla" ?

[Ben Gilbert]

I'm probably admitting a real weakness here, but why was he called the "Monza Gorilla" ?

According to his obituary, it was because of his mad charging/foolhardy style when he raced, and his stocky frame.

As he was known as the Monza Gorilla, maybe it gives another clue as to why he crashed when he won: His long 'gorilla' arms overbalanced the car when he raised them in triumph, and speared him off track.

[TedTofield]

spot on - he came from Monza (...he and his brother ran a garage near the track for years) and one whom uses strength as a substitute for finess is a Gorilla.....

[Faustus]

I think the last time March won a race was with Ronnie Peterson at the 1977 Italian Grand Prix, so not quite!

1976, mate. Ronnie Peterson was at Tyrrell in 1977.

[midgrid]

I think the last time March won a race was with Ronnie Peterson at the 1977 Italian Grand Prix, so not quite!

1976, mate. Ronnie Peterson was at Tyrrell in 1977.

Whoops, I stand corrected.

At least it was after Brambilla's win.

[midgrid]

I'm probably admitting a real weakness here, but why was he called the "Monza Gorilla" ?

According to his obituary, it was because of his mad charging/foolhardy style when he raced, and his stocky frame.

As he was known as the Monza Gorilla, maybe it gives another clue as to why he crashed when he won: His long 'gorilla' arms overbalanced the car when he raised them in triumph, and speared him off track.

Apparently he was also known for his "crushing" handshake, similar to one a well-mannered gorilla might give.

[watka]

I've seen his crash at Austria, sort of thing that I do on racing games!